In 1901, a State Returning Board was established to collect, count, and tabulate votes. The board was also responsible for keeping records of vote outcomes and ensuring that outcomes were published in local newspapers or other publications. The duties and responsibilities would change little over the next century.

Before the State Returning Board was formed, the Secretary of State was in charge of moderating the voting process and ensuring the results were given to the general assembly so that election results could be made public.

In 1935, per PL 1935, Chapter 2195, the use of voting machines was regulated and a board was formed to oversee the administration and operation of said machines. That same year, in PL 1935, Chapter 2188, the Board of Vote Tabulation was established as an official governmental body under the Department of State. Per the aforementioned legislation, all duties of the former State Returning Board were transferred to the Board of Vote Tabulation, as well as new responsibilities involving the administration of voting machines.

These records document the actions of the State Returning Board from 1901-1935. Records include minutes of the board from 1901-1935 (C#167) , a record of qualified electors from 1900-1935 (C#173), and manuals of election laws for use of moderators, wardens, clerks and supervisors from 1901-1936.

The minutes of the board include tabulations of votes or votes cast for elections of general officers, members of the general assembly and Congressional offices. The record of qualified electors includes the name of municipality, voting district number, number of voters, number of voting shelves and number of ballots. Beginning in 1920, the number of male and female voters and the number of votes are recorded. Entries are arranged by year, month and date and alphabetical by municipality and numerical by ward/district number therein. The manual of election laws are publications of compilations of Rhode Island General Laws as they relate to the dutes of moderators, wardens, clerks and supervisors at state elections. Manuals for 1930, 1932 and 1936 were prepared by the Department of State.